Minister Zapryanov: F-16 is already in service, technical acceptance of the aircraft continues

The repair of the first Bulgarian F-16 Block 70 aircraft has already been completed and the aircraft is in service. This became clear from the words of Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov, after he was heard at a closed session of the Commission for Control over the Security Services, Nova Television reports. Zapryanov explained that the technical acceptance of the aircraft continues. The flight test will begin soon, which will involve Bulgarian pilots flying with American instructors, after which it will be put into service and put into operation.
Regarding the suspicions of foreign interference in relation to the damaged module, the military minister said that he had reported in detail about the technical event, the measures taken, the actions of the technical and flight crew, and there are no concerns regarding the aircraft and the protection of information.
After the landing of the first Bulgarian F-16, a deviation was detected in the operation of one of the systems. This was announced by the commander of the Air Force Nikolay Rusev. Speculations about foreign interference and espionage arose, and the rotating chairman of the Commission for Control over the Security Services, Atanas Atanasov, convened a special meeting on the topic.